Plate clamp means



Dec. 4, 1951 E. F. DELL PLATE CLAMP MEANS Filed sept. '27, 1947 2 SP-XEETS-SI-IEET l f/zmffz far: dwafdll Dec. 4, 1951 E. F. DELL PLATE CLAMP lMEANS 2 S-iEETS-SHEET 2 Filed sept. 27,. 1947 Patented Dec. 4, 1951 PLATE CLAMP MEANS Edward F. Dell, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Davidson Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application September 27, 1947, Serial No. 776,480

12 Claims. l

My present invention relates to an improvement in clamp means for securing a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member.

The clamp means of my present invention has particular utility for securing a lithographie plate to a plate carrying member, such as a cylinder or cylinder segment of an offset printing press. Offset printing presses today are used frequently for preparing short runs of printed copy, and it is desirable when the press is thus employed to be able to provide for the easy and convenient removal and mounting of plates on the plate carrying member of the press.

Itis an object of my invention to provide clamp means for securing one end of a plate member, such as a lithographie plate, to a plate carrier member, such as a cylinder segment for a printing press, which may be easily and quickly disposed in opened and closed positions for the removal and mounting of plate members on the plate carrier member.

A further object oi my invention is to provide clamp means comprising a clamp member movable relative to the plate carrier member to opened and closed position, and a lock mem- 1 ber movable rectilinearly in opposite directions with means being provided between the lock and clamp members so that upon rectilinear movement of the lock member in opposite directions the clamp member is adapted to be opened and closed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a handle means adapted to be carried by the plate carrier member for conveniently imparting rectilinear movement to the lock member in opposite directions for opening and closing the clamp member,

A further object is to provide spring means between the plate carrier member and the clamp member normally tending to move the clamp member toward itsr open position in a direction away from the plate carrier member, and which spring means is caused to be compressed between the plate carrier member and the clamp member upon rectilinear movement of the lock member in a direction for moving the clamp member to its closed position toward the plate carrier member.

A further object is to provide spring means between the handle means and the plate carrier member for maintaining the handle means in position out of engagement with the lock member when the latter is disposed in position for either opening or closing the clamp member.

A still further object is to provide means extending through the plate carrier member and between the lock and clamp members and including the handle means for preventing rectilinear movement of the lock member from closed to opened position or opened to closed position when the handle means is disposed in position cut of engagement with the lock member.

The above and other objects and advantages ci my invention will appear from the detail description.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the with the manner of constructing and utilizing a clamp means in accordance with my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment ci my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a plate carrier member in the form of a cylinder segment forming in part a printing cylinder embodying the clamp means of my present invention, and in which the clamp means is shown in closed position;

Figure 2 is a bottom view partly broken away and showing certain parts in elevation of the clamp means of my invention in closed position with the view being taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Figure l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing the clamp means in opened position;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings I have shown the clamp means 6 of my invention embodied with a. plate carrier member 'l in the form of a plate cylinder segment. The plate cylinder segment is of a type adapted to be mounted together with a platen cylinder segment to form a plate and platen cylinder ci an oiset printing press of the type shown for example in Patent No. 2,387,750 dated October 30, 1945 to W. W. Davidson. It will be understood that the plate cylinder segment l with which the clamp means of my invention has been shown is typical of a plate carrier member with which my present invention may be used with it being understood that the clamp means of my invention has utility with carrier members of other construction.

The clamp means 6 of my invention comprises a cla-mp member or bar 8 which extends lengthplate carrier member at each of bolts I'I.

wise along the right hand edge of the plate cylinder segment 'I in the position of the latter as shown in the drawings. The clamp member 8 as most clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 is provided with a shoulder portion e having a surface I between which and a surface II of a shoulder portion of the plate carrier member 'I one end of a lithographie plate I2 is adapted to be clamped. The plate carrier member 'I is of substantially semi-cylindrical form with the end edge portion thereof at which clamp means 6 is arranged being offset substantially chordally so that the clamp means is adapted to lie within the cylindrical periphery of a printing cylinder dened by the plate carrier member 'I and the impression or platen cylinder segment in a position clearing other parts of the press, such as dampening and inking means providing for dampening and inking of the plate carried by the plate cylinder segment in rotation of the printing cylinder.

The above arrangement of a clamp member or bar 8 and plate carrier member l' is a conventional construction in the art, and in this known construction a pair of bolts I2 having recesses I5 in the heads thereof for the reception of a suitably formed tool for threading the bolts ifi in tapped bores I 6 adjacent the edge of the plate carrier member are provided for disposing the clamp bar 8 in opened and closed positions. This construction is usually used for securing a plate at one end edge to the plate carrier member for a long printing run with the opposite end edge of the plate being adapted to be secured to the plate carrier member 'I by any suitable known form of clamping means for drawing the plate taut about the carrier member. The clamp means 5 of invention is of a character which may be embodied, if desired, with the above conventional form of means for securing the clamp member S to the plate carrier member 'I with the clamp means 6 of my invention being adapted with the bolts I4 removed or in position in which the clamp bar is released to provide for the quick opening and closing of the clamp member 8 without the use of any special tool for opening and closing Y the clamp as is required for opening rand closing the clamp as by the bolts I4. In the combined structure the conventional known form of clamp means including the bolts I4 may be used in the known conventional manner for long printing runs but when the press is to be used for short run work the bolts I4 may be removed or disposed in a position in which they permit the clamp member to be disposed in opened and closed relation with respect of the plate carrier member so that the clamp member 8 may then be disposed in either open or closed position by the clamp means 6 of my invention.

As above noted the clamp member or bar 3 is adapted to be moved toward and away from the plate carrier member to closed and opened positions, respectively. The clamp means 6 of my invention comprises a pair of bolts I'I-I'I having heads I8-l8 which are adapted to be disposed in suitably formed recessesl in the clamp member or bar 8 with the stem portions of the bolts I'I extending through the plate carrier member I and through slots IS and 26 in the opposite ends of a rectilinearly movable lock member 22. Pins 2I may be provided for securing the bolts I1 in the clamp bar -or member 8. Washers 23 may be provided between lock member 22 and The threaded ends yof the bolts IVI each carry a nut 24 formed with a partial spherical surface 25 for engagement with the surfaces of the lock meniber 22 at opposite sides of the slots I9 and 2D in the opposite ends thereof. A lock nut 26 is also threaded on the threaded end of each of the bolts I'l for retaining the nuts 24 in adjusted position for purposes to be described hereafter. The pins 2l above referred to provide for holding the bolts I'I upon adjustment of nuts 24 and 25. A pair of counterbores 28 are formed in the plate Carrier member through which the stems of the bolts I'I project and a spring 25 is disposed in each counterbore. The springs are provided for normally biasing the clamp bar 8 to open position as shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings.

The outer end of slot I9 and at the inner end of slot 20 of lock bar 22, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, are formed with partial spherical seats 30 and 32 in which the partial spherical surfaces 25 of the bolts 24 are disposed in the open position of the clamp member as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings. In theopened position of the clamp member or bar 8 the inner or closed end of slot 25J of the lock bar 22 is in engagement with the adjacent bolt l? for restraining rectilinear movement of the lock bar 22 in one direction. When the bar 22 is in the position shown in Figure 2 the inner or closed end of slot I 9 is in engagement with the stem of the adjacent bolt I'I for limiting rectilinear movement of the lock bar in the opposite or other direction.

Upon rectilinear movement of the lock bar 22 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 2 the surfaces of the lock bar at opposite sides of the slots I9 and 20 engage the partial spherical end surfaces 25 of the nuts 24 drawing the clamp bar 3 toward the plate carrier member to closed position against the force of the pair of springs 29. Upon rectilinear movement of the lock bar 22 in the opposite direction as from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 the partial spherical surfaces 25 of the nuts 24 seat in the partial spherical recesses or seats 3E and 32 formed in the lock member 22 with the springs 29 upon being thus released positioning the clamp bar 8 in its opened position.

A -handle means indicated at 35 is formed at one end with a hand grip portion 36 and adjacent its other end is pivotally mounted as by means of a bolt Si' on the plate carrier member 1. A coil spring 39 is disposed at one end about a pin 4B secured to the handle member 35 between the pivotal mounting at 37 thereof and the handle portion 35 and the opposite end of the spring is disposed about a pin 42 carried by a bracket 413 sui'ably secured to internal reinforcing ribs 45 of the plate carrier member l. With the clamp member or bar in open position as shown in Figure 3 it will be observed that the rounded end portion 46 of the handle means 35 when the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction is adapted to be disposed in a recess 41 formed in the lock bar member 22 and upon movement of the handle beyond its dead center position in the direction noted the edge 48 of the end portion 435 engages the shoulder 49 at one end of the recess il to shift the lock bar member 22 rectilinearly from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 2 to close the `clamp bar 8. In the latter position of the lock bar 22 it will be observed that the shoulder of the hand grip portion is disposed at the end of the lock bar cr member at slot 2li and the closed end of slot I 9 is in engagement 15 with 4.the bolt Fl therein `so that the lock bar is secured against rectilinear movement in either direction. The parts :are proportioned so that upon rotation of :the .handle member to a position `approaching its dead l'center position the rounded .end portion moves into the recess 'but does not engage the shoulder 49 of recess A?! and if the handle is released the spring 3.9 returns the handle to the position vshown in Figure 3. Upon rotation .of handle member 35 in a counter-clockwise direction in the position shown in Figure i2 the Aedge 5d `of the rounded end portion 46 after the handle means passes `its ydead Ycenter position engages the `shoulder' k52 at the other lend of the recess 4l and moves .the lock member 22 from Vthe position shown in Figure 2 to the position .shown in Figure 3 in which the nuts 24 seat in seats 3i! and 32 permitting the springs 29 to bias the clamp member 8 to opened position. As `before if upon movement of the handle v35 to a position approaching its dead center position in the direction last noted and the handle is then released the spring 39 will reurn the handle to the position shown in Figure 2. The handle means when disposed in the position shown in Figure 3 also has a shoulder thereof disposed adjacent the slotted end I9 of the lock 'bar or member 22 and which together with '-bolt H in slot 2i] lprevents rectilinear movement of lne lock bar or member 22 in `either direction. The handle member 35 when retained by the spring 3d in either of the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3 lies Within the periphery of the printing cylinder formed in part by plate segment 1 so that it will not engage other parts of the press the rotation of the printing cylinder. The arrangement of spring 39 with the handle 35 assures of retaining the latter in either of its two end positions shown in Figures 2 and 3 and upon movement of the handle means in either direciff:

femmes rier member between said clamp member and .-saidlockimember adapted uponrectilinear movetion of rotation thereof and by which movement the lock bar is caused to be shifted to is extreme position in engagement with one or the vother of the stems of bolts l1. Upon the lock member 22 being disposed in either of its end positions the rounded end of handle member 35 is in a position outwardly of the recess 4T in lock bar 22 with the spring 39 then being effective to draw and retain the handle member within the periphery of the cylinder defined by the cylinder segment 1. In either of the positions of the loci. member 22 it will be observed that one of the inner or closed ends of the slots I9 and 2l! is adapted to be in engagement with one of the stems of the bolts il and that a shoulder of hand grip portion 36 is in engagement with one or the other of the opposie ends of lock bar or member 22 so that the latter is prevented from moving rectilinearly from opened to closed position, or vice versa.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that various modications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. Clamp means for clamping an edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable relative to said plate carrier member to opened and closed positions, a rectilinearly movable look member, and means including bolt means mounted for movement at right angles to said lock member and extending through said lplate cai'n Ament of :the latter in opposite directions 'Tor -efliectingdisposal oi said clamp'memberin opened and .closed positions.

2. Clamp means yfor clamping an edge fof :a lithographie plate or .the like to a plate carrier member comprising, va clamp member .movable 4toward and away from said plate 'carriermember :to zclosed and opened 'positions vrespectively, a 'lock member movable .rectilinearly in 'opposite directions `substantially at rig-ht .angles to the :direction of open `and closing movement of said .clamp member, and means including bolt ymean-s vmounted -for movement at right angles to v'said lock member between said clamp `member and said lock member 4adapted upon rectilinear'movement of the latter in opposite directions to .open vand close 'saidclamp member.

3. Clamp means for clamping fan edge of a lithographie plate ortho like to a .plate .carrier member comprising, aclamp member movable toward and laway romsaid plate carrier member to opened .and closed positions, respectively, za .lock member movable rectilinearly in opposite directions substantially at right ang-.les .to the direction of movement oi said. clamp :mem-ber to its opened and .closed position, handle means ,pivotally mounted intermediate Vits .ends on said plate carrier member between said lock member Iand .said clamp member for engaging one end portion `thereof with said lock member intermediate its ends to shift 4the latter rectilinearly in opposite directions, and means extending through said plate carrier member and between said clamp ,member and said lock member adapted upon rectilinear movement of the latter in opposite ,directions to open and close said clamp ,membeiz `4:. Clamp means for clamping .an edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to :closed and opened positions, respectively, a lock member, nut and bolt means associated with said lock member .and said clamp member for limiting movement of said clamp member .in a direction away from said plate carrier member, spring means between said plate `carrier member i and said .cla-mp member for normally urging the latter to its opened position, and means associated with said lock member and said nut and bolt means adapted upon rectilinear 4Vmovement of said lock member in opposite directions for eiecting disposal of said clamp member in its opened and closed positions.

5. Clamp means for clamping an edge or a lithographie plate .or the like to a plate carrier member comprising., a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed `and opened positions, respectively, a lock member, nut and bolt means associated with said lock member and said clamp member for limiting movement of said clamp member in a direction away from said plate carrier member,

. spring means between said plate carrier member 75' rectilinearly in opposite directions.

-6. Clamp means for clamping the edge of a lithographic plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed and opened positions, respectively, a lock member having slot means at its opposite ends, a pair of Ybolts having the stems thereof extendingthrough said plate carrier member and the slots of said lock member with the heads of said bolts being adapted to have engagement with said clamp member, nut means at the ends of the stems of said bolt means opposite the heads thereof, spring means between said plate carrier member and said clamp member for biasing the latter away 'from said plate carrier memberY and engaging said nut means with the end portions of said look member at said slot means, and means at the slotted ends of said lock member adapted upon rectilinear movement or" the latter in one direction to engage said nut means and through said bolt means move said clamp member to closed position against the force of said spring means, and upon rectilinear movement of said lock member in the opposite direction to permit said spring means to bias said clamp member to opened position.

Y'7. Clamp means for clamping an edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier memlber to closed and opened positions repectively, 4a lock member, nut and bolt means associated with said lock member and said clamp member for limiting movement of said clamp member in a direction away from said plate carrier member, spring means between said plate carrier member and said clamp member for normally urging the latter to its opened position, and means associated with said lock member and said nut and bolt means adapted upon rectilinear movement of lsaid lock member in opposite directions for effecting disposal of said clamp member in its opened and closed positions, and said bolt means being arranged to be engaged by said lock member to limit the extent of rectilinear movement thereof in its opposite directions.

8. Clamp means for clamping the edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed and opened positions, respectively, a lock member having slot means at its opposite ends, a pair of bolts having the stems thereof extending through said plate carrier member and the slot means of said lock member with the heads of said bolts being adapted to have engagement with said clamp member, nut means at the ends of the stems of said bolt means opposite the heads thereof for engagement with said lock member at said slot means thereof, spring means between said plate carrier member and said clamp member for biasing the latter away from said plate carrier member and engaging said nut means with the end portions of said lock member at said slot means, said lock member being adapted upon rectilinear movement of the latter in one direction to engage said nut means and through said bolt means move said clamp member to closed position against the force of said spring means, and upon rectilinear movement of said'lock member in the opposite direction to permit the `spring Y 'means to bias said clamp member to opened posilock memberffor moving the same rectilinearly i opposite directions.

9. Clamp means for clamping an edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed and opened positions, respectively, a lock member having slot means at its opposite ends, nut and bolt means associated with said Vlock member and said clamp member for limiting movement of said clamp member in a direction away from said plate carrier member, spring means between said plate carrier member and said clamp member for normally urging the latter to its opened position, and means associated with said lock member and said nut and bolt means adapted upon rectilinear movement of said lock member in opposite directions for eiecting disposal of said clamp member in its opened and closed positions, handle means pivotally mounted on said plate carrier adapted to engage said lock member to move the same rectilinearly Ain opposite directions, and said bolt means and said handle means in the opened and closed positions of said clamp member being adapted to prevent rectilinear movement of the latter.

10. Clamp means for clamping the edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed and opened positions, respectively, a lock member having slot means at its opposite ends, a pair of bolts having the stems thereof extending through said plate carrier member and the slot means of said lock member with thek heads of said bolts being adapted to have engagement with said clamp member, nut means at the ends of the stems of said lbolt means opposite the heads thereof, spring means between said plate carrier member and said clamp member for biasing the latter away from said plate carrier member and engaging said nut means with the end portions of said lock members at Said slot means, and means at said slot means of said lock member adapted upon rectilinear movement of the latter in one direction to engage said nut means and through said bolt means move said clamp member to closed position against the force of said spring means, and upon rectilinear movement of said lock member in the opposite direction to permit the spring means to bias said clamp member to opened position, handle means pivotally mounted on said plate carrier member and adapted upon rotation thereof to engage one end of the same with said lock member for moving the latter rectilinearly in its opposite directions, and spring means between said handle member and said plate carrier member for bias ing said handle means in a position with said one end thereof out of engagement with said lock member and for disposing the other end of said handle means when said lock member is disposed in either of its rectilinearly shifted positions in position for engaging one end of said lock member to prevent rectilinear movement thereof from one to the other of its rectilinearly shifted positions.

11. Clamp means for clamping an edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed and opened positions, respectively, a lock member having slot means at its opposite ends, nut and `bolt means associated with said lock member and said clamp member for limiting movement of said clamp member in direction away from said plate carrier member, spring means between said plate carrier member and said clamp member for normally urging the latter to its opened position, means associated with said lock member and said nut and -bolt means adapted upon rectilinear movement of said lock member in opposite directions for effecting disposal of said clamp member in its opened and closed positions, said bolt means being adapted to limit rectilinear movement of said lock member in a direction toward each thereof by the engagement thereof with the inner ends of said slot means at the opposite ends of said lock member, and handle means pivotally mounted on said plate carrier member and adapted upon rotation thereof to engage one end of the same with said lock member for moving the latter rectilinearly in opposite directions, and spring means between said handle member and said plate carrier member for biasing said handle means in a position with said one end thereof out of engagement with said lock member and for disposing the other end of said handle means when said lock member is disposed in either of its rectilinearly shifted positions in position for enga-ging either of the ends of said lock member to prevent movement thereof from one to the other of the rectilnearly shifted positions.

12. Clamp means for clamping an edge of a lithographie plate or the like to a plate carrier 10 member comprising, a clamp member movable toward and away from said plate carrier member to closed and open positions, respectively, a lock member, a handle member pivotally mounted on said plate carrier member in position for engaging said lock member to shift the latter rectilinearly in opposite directions, means extending through said plate carrier member between said clamp member and said lock member adapted upon rectilinear movement of the latter in opposite directions for effecting disposal or" said clamp member in open and closed positions, and means for said handle means in the closed and open positions of said clamp member for disposing said handle means in juxtaposition of the opposite ends of said look member, respectively, to prevent rectilinear movement of said lock member.

EDWARD F. DELL.

REFEREN CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 772,453 Berry Oct. 18, 1904 960,218 Droitiour May 3l, 1910 1,206,115 Jennings Nov. 28, 1916 1,260,470 Smith et al Mar. 26, 1918 1,604,653 Martin Oct. 26, 1926 2,229,059 Ditty et al. Jan. 21, 1941 

